Improvement in fence-posts and fences



G. R. CLARK & F. LO'I'HROP.-

Fence-Post and Pence.

Patented Aug. 20,l878.

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UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE;

GEORGE R. CLARK AND FRANK LOTHROP, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCE-POSTS AND FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,254, dated August 20, 1878 application filed- May 3, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE R. CLARK and FRANK LOTHROP, both of city and county of Dubuque, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fence-Posts and Fences; and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a fence constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing a pair of sliding clamps mounted upon the lon- -gitudinal rail and separated from each other.

Fig. 3 is a section through the axis of the clamp employed to attach or connect the intermediate braces with the fence. Fig. 4 represents the two parts of the coupling employed to unite the fence-rails with the cornerposts, said parts being shown as separated and ready to clamp the notched end of the rail. Fig. 5 is a sectional view, showing the method of attaching the top plate of the corner-post to the vertical rods thereof. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the base-plate detached from the posts.

Like letters in all the figures indicate corresponding parts.

Our invention has relation to that class of fences constructed in numerous parts, which are to be united in order to form the completed structure; and it (the invention) consists in certain novel combinations or arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

The corner-post is constructed as follows: Four (a greater or less number may be used) rods or bars, A A, bent so that their upper extremities converge, are held firmly in proper relative location by means of the base-plate B, cast or made in sections. At each corner or angle of this plate, when the several sections are brought together, is an orifice, through which the rods or bars of the post pass, fitting closely therein. There is also an orificein the center, through which a bolt passes, for the purpose of holding the sections of the plate firmly together.

The sections are made with projections on their upper surfaces, over which the cap K fits,

so as to grasp and hold said sections firmly together, being retained in its place by the central bolt above named. This center bolt. also secures the lower portion of the post to the foundation part thereof.

The rods forming the post are held together at the top by a plate, N, through orifices or notches in the angles of which said rods pass, and to which plate the ornamental cap M of the post is attached by a center bolt, as at O.

A plate similar in construction to the baseplate may be placed near the center of the post, for the purpose of securing perfect inflexibility of the rods or bars aforesaid, and also to add firmness and solidity to the post.

The rails of the fence are connected with the corner post or bar by means of a union, as at D, made in two sections, so that when united by a bolt the shorter arm of the coupling will embrace one of the rods. Into the other arm of this coupling the rail is inserted. On one side of the longer arm, and within the cavity, is a projectiomd, which fits into a corresponding notch, t, cut in the end of the rail. By this means, when the rail is inserted and the two sections of the coupling bolted together, said rail is firmly held in proper position.

At the end of the coupling is a notch or depression, intended to receive a corresponding wedge-shaped projection or tongue, E, on the sliding clamp 0.

Through the sliding clamps G, which may be ornamented as desired, the rail L passes, and back of this rail the pickets I I are inserted, being caused to pass through peculiar shaped notches or slots, and all being held firmly in their places by corresponding projections on the next succeeding or adjacent clamp; and the insertion of each picket firmly secures each preceding picket by reason of the tightening effected through the wedge-shaped projections E aforementioned, which enter the ends of the adjacent clamps. The pickets, while thus held in their desired positions, also operate to hold the sections or clamps upon the rail in proper relative location, and these sections, when united, as shown at Fig. 1, form and present in appearance a continuous line of ornamentation.

The clamps O are arranged to be fastened to the line posts or braces H in the following manner: One end of arm F is inserted as a tenon into a corresponding mortise or socket,

- F, formed in the sliding clamp O. The rail L By this device the rail is held firmly to the line-posts, and no jamming or concussion will loosen any part, as frequently occurs when slngle wedges or keys of the ordinary form are used.

The above-described invention is intended to apply more especially to fences made of iron, but is manifestly applicable to fences made of other materials. The invention possesses this further merit, that in the construction of a fence in accordance with the above-described improvements, iron rods or bars may be used for posts, pickets, and rails not especially manufactured for the purpose, and which may be found upon the market, whereby the expense is greatly diminished.

The several parts of the fence may be easily assembled or disunited at pleasure, and when properly made up the fence is found to be firm and durable, and to present a neat and tasty appearance.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

' 1. In a fence of the character herein specifled, the combination, with the removable bars forming the corner-post, of the sectional clamp provided with corner-sockets, which receive and hold said bars at bottom, the sections being maintained in proper position by a suitable cap-piece, K, secured by a central bolt, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. The sliding clamp 0, adapted to be mounted upon the longitudinal rail, said clamp being notched to receive and hold the pickets, and provided with a wedge-shaped projection, E, adapted to enter a corresponding socket in the next adjacent clamp, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with the sliding clamp O, mounted upon the horizontal rail, and provided with the wedge E and notches for the pickets, the arm F and wedges W W, adapted to bear against the upright line post or brace, in the manner shown and described.

4. In combination with the sectional baseplate B, made with sockets at the corners and projecting ribs or ridges upon its upper face, the cap-piece K, fitting over said ridges, and held in place by the central bolt, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The herein-described fence, composed of the corner posts or bars, united by the sectional plate B, the sliding clamps U, rails L, and pickets II, the whole being arranged substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination of bars A A, united at bottom, the plate N, and cap-piece M, made to clamp the curved ends of said bars by means of the central bolt, 0, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE R. CLARK. FRANK LOTHROP. Witnesses:

M. H. BEACH, O. J. WALSH. 

